Automatic contour-stitching machine



Feb. 22 1949. s. SCHILLER AUTOMATIC CONTOUR-STITCHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 29, 1946 on m Feb. 22, 1949.

s. SCHILLER AUTOMATIC CONTOUR-STITCEHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 29, 1946 Feb. 22, 1949. s. SCHILLER 2,462,559

AUTOMATIC CONTOUR-STITCHING MACHINE Filed Oct. '29, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 22, 1949. s. SCHILLER AUTOMATIC CONTOUR-STITCi-IING MACHINE 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed oc 29, 1946 0 w WMMQ a w i i IQ mmm w M v mmwks w w u w Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC CONTOUR- STITCHING MACHINE Saul. Schiller, Brooklyn,v N. Y.

Application otober29, 1946, Serial No. 706,456

Claims (01. 112-192) The. present invention relates in general to sewmachines and more particularly to an improved sewing machine of the type designed to stitch articles of fabric or. other material in a variety of; directions and in accordance with a predetermined. pattern.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for supporting and moving the article to be stitched.

A. further obj ect is to; provide improved articlesupporting means which, is. mounted for universal movement a. horizontal plane and driven by drive-means which is so arranged with respect to the supporting-means that all. force-vectors applied thereon by said drive-means arein symmetry with respect to. the. longitudinal and trans.- verse axes of said supporting-means.

A still further object is to provide improved mounting-means for the article-supporting means such that the rack-plate which controls the movement of the supporting-means is suspended. above and in cooperative engagement with the drive-means.

Astill further object is to provide a sewing machine of the type having an oscillating shuttleshaft with drive-means for transmitting intermittent motion to-the article-supporting means.

A still further object is to provide improved mechanism for resetting the. article-supporting means at the end of a sewing cycle, the supportlog-means resetting mechanism being cooperatively associated with the articlerclamping means so as to be actuated simultaneously therewith when the elements of an article are assembled and clamped to the supporting-means,

A still further object is toprovide improved clamping-means for securing the article to the supporting-meana With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to. those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosurewhich are novel over the prior art.

In the. accompanying drawings, in which certainmodes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

.Fig. 1 is a. side. elevation of the improved sewing machine of thisinvention, a part of the view being broken away to-show a section of. the base of the. machine;

Fig. 2 is a top. plan View partly in section of the. machine shownin. Fig. 1:;

3 is a bottomplan. view of the machine showing the intermittent. drive-means and the .snpportinmmews resetting mechanism;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the left-hand" end of the machine as seen in Fig. 1, showing the improved ratchet-means for locking the articleclamping means in clamping position;

Fig. 5 is av sectional elevation of the articleclamps on line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation on line E.fi of Fig. 2 showing the pinion-member fordriving the rack-plate of the article-supporting means, and the friction-drive bands andbrake-band co.- operatively associated with the pinion-member; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary end elevation online 5-! of Fig. 2- of the latch of the automatic stop..- means.

In carrying out the present invention, a sewing machine is used, indicated generally at M, .hav-

ing a conventional reciprocating needle -l:l1 which is actuated by a substantially-horizontally-disposed drive-shaft 12-. The latter carries an. idle pulley t3 freely mounted on its outer end which is adapted to be driven by a belt from a power source not shown. A conventional belt-shifter (not shown) is adapted to transfer the drive; from the idle-pulley 3 to a drive-pulley it which ,is keyed to'the shaft I2. The drive-pulley M is pro:- vided with a hub-portion {5 having a radiallyprojecting lug it which is adapted to be engaged by the upper end H of apivoted stop-lever ;I. 8-, the latter being mounted on a transverse pivotpin to so as to swing in a vertical-plane clockwise and counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. .1. -;'l3he stop-lever i8 is biased by means of a fi-at leafspring 25 toswing, clockwise or outwardly so that its upper end [1 will engage the lug it of the drive-pulley and stoprotation of theneedle-shatt 2. The stop-lever 1-81 is adapted to be held in its retracted or inoperative position, as shown, Joy means of a bell-crank lever 2!: which is pivoted as at 22 to the frame of the machine so. as to 1'0- tate in a vertical piano at substantially right angles to the plane of rotation of thestop-dever I 8, the lever-2| having a short-arm 2.3 atits lower end arranged normally to engage the lowerend of the pivoted spring-biased stop-lever t3. {She long upper-arm 2d of the pivoted bell-crank lever 21 is provided with a horizontally-extending reach 250 which isadaptednorrnally to be supported on the upper edge of the rearward-ly-extending arm 25 of a lever 26 pivotedas at .258 to the sewing machine head and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of its base 21. The lever Zfiis biased to swingv in acoun terclockwise. direction, asseen in Fig. l, bymeans of. a coil-spring 23 which is secured at oneend to the rear-arm 25 of the lever and at its opposite end to the head of the machine, the lever 26 being adapted to be held in its normal substantiallyhorizontal position by suitable latch-means, indicated generally at 29, mounted on the forwardarm 30 of the lever.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 7, the latch-means 29 comprises a knuckle 3i pivoted at the end of the forward-arm 35 so as to swing in a substantially-horizontal plane, and provided with a finger 32 extending normally in a substantially-horizontal plane at right angles to the lever-arm 3B. The outer end of the finger 32 is provided with a prop 33 which is pivoted at its upper end to the outer end of the finger 32 and adapted to extend downwardly so as to engage on the outer edge of the base 21 of the sewing machine, as shown in Fig. 7. The prop 33 is resiliently held in a substantially-vertical position by a spring 34 which is secured at one end to the outer extremity of the finger 32 and at its opposite end to the upwardly-extending end of the pivoted prop 33, the force of the spring 34 holding the upper end of the prop 33 in engagement with a stop-pin 35 projecting from the outer'end of the finger 32. The prop 33 is free, however, to pivot in a clockwise direction, for the purpose hereinafter described.

Referring to Fig. 2, the opposite end of the finger 32 is engaged by a coil-spring 36 which, in turn, is connected at its opposite end to the arm 35 of the lever 26 so 'as to resiliently hold the finger 32 in a normal position substantially at right angles to the lever 26, a suitable stopcollar 31 being secured to the forward end 30 of the lever immediately adjacent the pivoted knuckle 3| to prevent the latter, including the spring-biased finger, from swinging in a counterclockwise direction.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that as long as the prop 33 of the pivoted finger 32 is engaged on the outer edge of the base 21, the lever 26 will be held in a substantially-horizontal position, as viewed in Fig. 1, but that whenever the prop 33 is displaced from the outer edge of the base, the lever 26 will be rotated about its pivot 260 by the force of the spring 28 and thereby elevate its rearwardly-extending arm 25 against the underside of the reach 240 of the long-arm 24 of the bell-crank lever 2|. this occurs, the short-arm 23 of the bell-crank lever 2| will swing counterclockwise out of engagement with the lower end of the spring-biased stop-lever l 8, as a consequence of which the latter will swing outwardly or clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1, and thrust its upper end I! into the path of the lug it of the drive-pulley I4, thus immediately stopping the rotation of the needle-shaft [2, the drive-belt being simultaneously shifted to the idle-pulley I3. 7

The needle-shaft I2 is provided adjacent its rearend with a crank 38 and connecting-rod 35, the lower end of the latter being pivotally secured to the short-arm 45 of a bell-crank lever 4i pivotally supported on the end of a stud-shaft 42 mounted on the underside of the base 21 of the machine. The long-arm 43 of the bell-crank lever 4| is slotted longitudinally and adapted to receive in its slot a roller 44 which is carried on the end of a crank-arm 45. The latter is secured to the rear end of a shuttle-shaft 46 which runs substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the base of the machine, being supported at its opposite ends in suitable hearings on the underside-thereof. The linkage connecting the rotating needle-shaft l2 and the bobbin-shaft 46 When will be recognized as a well-known means for converting continuous rotary motion into oscillatory motion, which is the characteristic motion of the shuttle-shaft 46.

Drilled in the base 21 of the machine, substantially intermediate its opposite ends and on the longitudinal axis thereof, is an aperture 41 provided with a cylindrical bushing 48 adapted to receive a pinion-member, indicated generally :at '49. The latter comprises a hub 50 rotatably mounted in the bushing 48 and provided at its lower end with an integral flange comprising a relatively-thin disk 5|, the diameter of which is several times greater than the diameter of the hub 56. As shown in Fig. 1, the pinion-disk 5| is located between the underside of the base 21 of the machine, and the oscillating shuttle-shaft 46 being held in operative position by means of a pair of bars l3! (see Fig. 3) secured to the underside of thebase 2'! and traversing opposite edges of the pinion-disk 5!. The upper end of the hub 50 extends above the top surface of the base of the machine and is provided around its periphery with an annular series of pinion-teeth 52. Extending upwardly above the plane of the pinion-teeth 52 and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the hub 56, is a cylindrical cam guide-pin 53, the latter being preferably formed as an integral extension of the hub. The pinion-teeth 52 and cam guide-pin 53 are adapted to cooperatively engage with the rack-teeth and cam-groove respectively of the article-supporting means for operating the latter in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter described.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 6, the pinion-member 49 is adapted to be rotated intermittently, and to this end a friction drive-band 54 is provided whichcircumscribes the periphery of the piniondisk 5| adjacent the lower edge thereof, the oppositely-disposed ends of the friction driveband 54 being provided with substantially-rectangular flanges 55 and 56 respectively Pivotally secured to the flange 55 is a lever of the second class, indicated generally at 51, comprising a horizontally-slotted web-portion 58 formed integrally at the left-hand end of the arm of the lever 51 and at substantially right angles thereto, as seen in Fig. 3. The slotted web is adapted to be secured to the flange 55 of the friction drive-band 54, and to this end the flange 55 is inserted into the slot of the web 58 and pivotally secured therein by a fulcrum-pin 59. Pivotally secured in the slot of the web 58, intermediate its fulcrum-pin 59 and the arm of the lever 51, is one end of a link 60, the opposite end of which is provided with an elbow 6| bent at an angle of substantially 45 thereto and slotted horizontally to receive the flange 56 of the friction drive-band 54, the flange 56 being secured in the slot of the elbow 6| by a pivot-pin 62, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. The end 63 of the arm of the lever 51 is bent at substantially right angles thereto in a direction opposite to but in the horizontal plane of the web-portion 58, andsecured to the end 63 of the lever-arm is one end of a chain 64 which is adapted to encircle the perimeter of a semicircular disk 65 secured to the shuttle-shaft 46, the opposite end of the chain 64 being secured to the perimeter of the semicircular disk 65 by suitable fastening-means, as shown in Fig. 3. Suitably secured to the outer edge of the flange 56 of the friction drive-band by a screw 660 is one end of a draw-wire 66 which partially encircles the periphery of the drive-band 54. The wire 66 is secured at its opposite end to one end of a coil spring 161, the opposite :iendoi theilatter being, in .ianchored to aa post in 'the --underside :of the base :of sevc inglmachine.

In accordance with the foregoing construction, it wii'libe evident :as "the shuttle-shaft oscillates, the chain 4 will be drawn :around the semicircular disk 65 during :each half-revolution of the shaft in a clockwise direction, as viewed in 3., and thus pivot the lever .51 in a counterclockwise direction 'about its .iu'lcrum-pin 59. The counterclockwise movement nfLtheXleVer 1' :will initially tpull the .link '60 to :t'he leit so as to draw the flangedend 5S-hfthefriction drive-band 54'= closer to the oppositely-disposed end -5'5-of the drive-band. In this .manner, the friction drive-band 54 is tightened around ithe periphery of the ,ipinion disk '51 with :sufilcient frictional force to :rotate the disk during the subsequent movement :of .theklever 511. Thezangle of rotation of the pinion-disk BI .is .a .ffunction of the :radius ofthe semicircularrdisktE:and'the distance between the center of the vpinion-disk 5i and the semicircular disk of the :shuttleshaft. In the present embodiment, these dimen-- sions are so selected that thepinion-disk 5.1 will be rotated through an-angle of substantially with each movement of the .lever 51 in ta counterclockwise direction. When the direction of rotation of the oscillating bobbin-shaft 46 .isreversed,

the chain .64- releases the lever 51, whereupon the *irictiongrip of thedrive-sband 54.:is released, the lever 51 and band 54 being. thereupon :drawn back by the force of the "coil-spring "61 :pulling on the draw-wire $6. The retraction of the loosened drive-band 54 is limited by an .adjustable stop '68 against which .the edge of the flange-56 of the drive-band 54 .is adaptedtoiabut when in its normal position.

In order that the pinion-member '49 will ireinain stationary while the friction drive-band 54 is being retracted to its normal positionga brakeband 69 is providedwhich encircles thegperiphery of the pinion-disk 5| adjacent the iupper edge thereof, as shown in Fig. 6. Referring again to Fig. .3, the oppositely-disposed "ends :of the brake-band are provided with suitable flanges I9 and H respectively, the edge of the flange 110 being adapted to abut afixed .post -12 :projecting from the base of the machine. The edge of the flange "H of the .brake-band269 :isadapted to 'be engaged by .the arm 13 .of aspring-loaded brake-lever 14 pivoted at 15 to the *base'ofwthe machine, the arm 1.3 being normally held .in engagement with the edge of the flange TH :of the "brake-band by the. force of a coil-spring 16, one end of which is secured to the lever-arm ?3,'the opposite end being suitably anchored to theb'ase-o'f the machine. The spring-.loaded-arm T3 of'it'hehrakelever is thus adapted to eforce the end H of .theibrake-band-towardthe fixed end '10 thereof so as to tighten the brake-hand around the periphehy o'f the pinion-disk 51. .The friction gripof the brake-band -69 around the pinion-disk -51 is, however, somewhat less than the friction .grip of the drive-band v.515, as a consequence of which the [friction r'driveeband 54 is enabled to rotate the pinion-member 49 in one direction. When the drive band 54 is retracted, the brake-band will hold "the pinionmember stationary, the "resulting motion of the pin-ion member being anintermittentrotary"mo tion .Zin one direction.

In accordance with -'a 'i'urther object of the inventiomsuitahlemeans areprovidedifor revers ing 'athe rotation :of ithe ipinion meniber in order to aeset t'he artieles'snpporting means at :the send oi reach sewing cycle. lihis is :done in order toeiiect :a short length .oisuperposed stitching on zthexa'rticle .iior tying together the tloose ends of the threads. :To this end, :a :second'iriction drive-band H .is mounted on .ith'e periphery of the pinion-disk 551, the oppositely-disposed ends of the drive-hand 17 being *provided with outwardly-projecting flanges sand 19 respectively. The flange '18 .;is,:pivotally securedrin the slotted .end :of a horizontally-slotted ilever 180,, at "the outer end of which is secured one end nf a cord In chain 58 rfornperatingthesecond ifriction drive-band 7:1, :as hereinafter described. .Intermediate the outer and .inner sends 10f the lever 89 is .a ,:pi.votepin :82 which *pivotally connects one end .of :a right-angle lever 3.3 in the slot of the .lever $0, the :opposite end of the trig-htangle lever '83 being slotted horizontally to receive the flange 19 *of the second :drive-band to which it .is pivotally :secured. The lever is biasedbya coil springiflll which :is secured at :one

end to the gpivot-z-pin 8.2 .Of :the :lever 80, its

opposite end being suitably anchoredrto :the hase of the machine. The "force "of the @coilespring 84 normally pullsathelever 80 :in-a acounterclockwise direction ('see F-ig. .3) xsoaas-to :spread apart the oppositely-disposed ends of 'theiri'ction :dr-iveband 27:! which is positively theld fromrrotating by ':a pin 1.90 in engagement with the :fiange 19. ,Hhe second drive-band :71 thus .does .not normallygrip the pinion-disk :5l. :HOWQVGI, .by pulling on the cord 81 so as'to-swingthe lever 88 in a clockwise direction, the second ifriction drive-band 17 .will be tightened :around "the :peripherywof the pinion-disk v51 :sufilciently to 'fric- .tionally rotate the latter tin-1a clockwise direction counter .to the normal :direction or :rotation .of the pinion-member. In this connection, the card no 8| is shown bent around 13. "post 85 carried at the extremity-of :an extension 86 :of the :ibrakelever 14 :so that when the cord P8! is pulled, a force component of the latter :acts on the "post 85 to swing the arm :13 of the brake-lever :74 out i of engagement with l the edge :of the adjacent flange ll of the brake-band 69, thus releasing the brake-band from frictional engagement with the pinion-disk 5|. 'Consequently,rthe piniondisk .51 is .freed and :is thereupon 1rotatedrin a clockwisedirection by the second drive-band, the corresponding counter rotation of :the pinionmember 45 being for the purpose .of resetting the article-supporting means.

The article-supporting .means is "mounted :on the top side .of the base 0f the :machine and romprises a "carriage, indicated generally :at 581., to which .is :secured the article-holding plate, indicated generally at 88, the carriage and :plate being suitably mounted =for-universal movement in a horizontalgplane, as hereinafter described. Referring to Figs. .-1 and l 2, the carriage :81! acornprises a pair -.of spaced parallel yguide-rods '89 adapted to extend across the base of the machine .at right angles :to :the Iilongitudinal axis thereof, the rods being slidably mountedat their opposite ends in bearing-blocks eaoh ofiwhich comprises an L-shaped.bracket .91 -secured to the topside of .the base of .theJnachineand -extending llatera'lly from opposite .sides thereof, .as shown in Fig. .2. .Extending transversely across the guide-rods "89 in spacedparalll relationship and between "the "bearing-blocks 90 thereof, are a pair of hearingbrackets "-92 rigidiy secured "to the said guide-rods, as sh'ownin Fi-g. "1, *andpro 'vided avith hearing hangers I 93 bent wtlownwardly at substantially right angles to the brackets. Each hanger 93 is provided with a bearing-aperture 94, the longitudinal axes of the bearing-apertures 94 'of each clamp being in axial alignment and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base. Supported in the axially-aligned bearing-apertures 94 of the clamps 92, are a second pair of spaced parallel carriage guide-rods 95, the latter being slidably mounted at their opposite ends in the bearing-apertures of the brackets. The carriage guide-rods 95 are adapted. in turn, to support a substantially-rectangular rack-plate 98. To this end, a carriage-clamp 91 is secured at its opposite ends to the corresponding guiderods 95 at substantially right angles thereto and between the bearing-hangers 93 thereof. As shownin Fig. 2, the rack-plate 99 is secured to the underside of the transverse carriage-clamp 91 by screws 98 or equivalent fastening-means, the longitudinal axis of the rack-plate being midway between the guide-rods 95 and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine base 21. In accordance with this construction, the rackplate is supported by the carriage guide-rods for substantially-universal movement in a horizontal plane which is parallel to the plane of the base 21 and between the latter and the horizontal plane of the carriage guide-rods 89.

The rack-plate 96 is provided on its underside with a cam-groove'99 having the configuration of the pattern to be'sewn on the article or workpiece, the cam-groove being substantially symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rack-plate. Provided around the periphery of the cam-groove 99 and at a uniform distance therefrom, are a plurality of downwardly-projectingsequentially-spaced pins or rack-teeth I which follow the configuration-of the cam-groove 99. The latter and the rack-teeth I00 are adapted to be engaged by the cam guide-pin 53 and the teeth 52 respectively of the pinion-member 49, so that when the latter is rotated intermittently, as described above, the rack-plate 90 will be intermittently moved through a path corresponding to the configuration of the cam-groove 99; It will be noted that the spaced parallel guide-rods 99 of the carriage are mounted substantially symmetrically with respect to the pinion-member 49, i. e., the guide-rods 89 are at substantially-equal distances on opposite sides of the center of the pinion-member. Moreover, the rack-plate 96 is supported by the carriage substantially symmetrically with respect to the guide-rods 95. In accordance with this construction, all force vectors acting on the rackplate 96 to move the latter substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the base 21 of the machine, act substantially symmetrically with respect to the spaced parallel guide-rods 89, while'all force vectors acting longitudinally of the base 21 act substantially symmetrically with respect to the spaced parallel guide-rods 95. Consequently, if there are any force movements tending to bind the respective pairs of carriage guide-rods in their bearings, these will be held to a minimum. H

Bolted or otherwise secured to the forward end of the rack-plate '96 of the carriage 81, is the article-holding plate 98 which is substantially rectangular, its longitudinal axis being in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the rack-plate 96. An aperture IOI is formed in the article-holding plate 80 which, in the present embodiment, is substantially circular and ineludes an elongated radially-extending groove I02 adjacent the forward edge of, the work-piece holding-plate and coincident with the longitudinal axis thereof. Secured to the underside of the work-piece holding-plate is a runnerplate I03 (see Fig. 5) which is adapted to slidingly'engage on the top surface of the base 21 of the machine so as to support the end of the work-piece holding-plate thereon. The runnerplate I03 has an aperture I04 corresponding substantially to the configuration of the cam-groove 99 oftherack-plateand concentric with and considerably smaller than the aperture I M of the work-holding plate 98, the edge of the aperture I04 being adapted to constitute a relativelynarrow ledge I05 on which the work-piece may besl pported during the stitching operation. Located at suitably-spaced points along the ledge I05 and back from the edge of the aperture I04, are a plurality of upwardly-projecting work-piece positioning-prongs I06 adapted to facilitate the assembly of the elements of the work-piece on the supporting-ledge I05 of the runner-plate I03. The particular article to be sewn on the present machine is a man's garter comprising a pair of superposed hexagonal pads adapted to have two elastic bands stitched therebetween in angular relationship at one end thereof, anda stockingsupporter stitched at its opposite end. Hence, the configuration of the cam-groove of the rackplate and the aperture I04 in the runner-plate is substantially hexagonal, so that in stitching the pads together, the line of stitching will follow a subsantially-hexagonal path around the outer edges of the pads; In order to temporarily support'the elastic'bands and the stocking-supporter in the apertured holding-plate 88, the aperture I9I thereof is provided with grooves IOI0 for the elastic bands of the garter, the stocking-supporter of the garter being adapted to lie in the groove I02.

Suitable means are provided for clamping the pads, elastic bands and stocking-supporter in assembled relationship on the ledge I05 of the runher-plate I03. Referring to Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the work-piece clamping-means comprises a pair of semi-circular frame-members I01, each being provided intermediate its opposite ends with an integral outwardly-projecting arm I08. The outer ends of the arms I08 are secured to the respectiverear ends of suitable shafts I09 at substantially right angles thereto, the shafts being rotatably mounted in axially-aligned bearings IIO on opposite sides of the work-holding plate 88. The shafts I09 are held from moving longitudinally in the bearings I I0 by means of suitable thrust-collars III secured to the forward ends of the respective shafts I09, the outer extremities of which are providedwith grooved pulleys II 2 each secured to its respective shaft by a screw or other fastening-means. Secured to each pulley H2 is a bracket .II3 to which is secured one end of a coil-spring H4, the latter extending from the bracket I I3 of one pulley around the outer periphery thereof, across the front end of v the work-holding plate and around the outer periphery of the other pulley to which it is secured by itscorresponding bracket H3. The shafts, I09 are thus spring-biased to rotate in opp ositedirections, the shaft at the right-hand side of thework-piece holding-plate 88 being rotatable clockwise and the shaft at the left-hand side of the plate being rotatable counterclockwise. In" accordance with this construction, the framefrom the work-piece retaining-aperture It! of the work piece holder 88. Referring again to Figs. 2- and 5, the frame-members I01 are equipped with suitable resilient members for en gaging the elements of the work-piece when. the latter are supported on the ledge I25 within the aperture IilI of the holding-plate. These resilient members constitute looped wires H5, each wire being substantially-U-shaped and secured at its opposite ends by screws or other means to its respective frame-members Isl, the length of. each wire-loop corresponding to the length of. that side of the edge of the aperture I84 of the runner plate I23 opposite which the loopis secured. As shown in Fig. 5, each loop H5, is bent downwardly at substantially right angles to its point of attachment to its respective frame-mem her so as to positively engage the assembled. elements of the work-piece.

In order to positively hold the resilient wire,- loops II5 of the frame-members in engagement with the elements of the work-piece during the sewing cycle, suitable ratchet-means is-lprovided, indicated generally at H6. Referring to Fig. 4,, the ratchet-means IIB comprises a pulley II'I supported to rotate in a vertical plane by a pin I I8 extending forwardly from the front face of a stanchion H9 secured to the forward end of, the work-piece holding-plate 88. The pulley H1: is. supported substantially intermediate the pulleys 5 I2 and is provided at substantially-diametrical ly-opposite points on its outer face with, two outwardly-extending pins I 22. Anchored to each pin is one end of a coil-spring. I2I, the opposite end'of each spring being connected to one end of a Short length of chain I22, each of which isv se-. cured at its opposite end respectively. toone of the, pulleys H2. Each pin I also constitutes a post for supporting one end of a diametrical bar I23 which is adapted to be manually operated to rotate the pulley I I! about its axis I I8. As shown in Fig. 4, the chain connections between. the manually operated pulley II? and the pulleys H2 are such that by rotating the pulley l I in a. counterclockwise direction, the shaits It!) and their respective frame-members IQ'I, will rotate to bring. the res lient wire-loops I I5 of the latter into engagement with the elements of the work-piece. Although the pulley III is adapted to be rotated manually, it will be seen that the pulley I II'is also provided with a chain I24 secured. at its upper end in a peripheral groove of the pulley I II, the lower end of the chain I24 being adapted tobe secured to one end of a lever-arm I25 (see Fig. 1) pivoted to the underside of the support on which the sewing machine is mounted. the lever-arm I25 being one arm of a bell-crank lever having a foot-pedal (not shown) on the lower end of its other arm I26. Thus, by thrusting the lever-arm I26 rearwardly, the arm I25 will be pulled downwardly so as to rotate the pulley I I! in a counterclockwise direction and thus swing thev work-piece retainingmembers I I5 into engagement with the elements of the work-piece.

In order to secure the work-piece-retaining wire-loops H5 in work-piece-engaging position, the pulley III is provided w th locking-means comprising a transverse bar I21 on its periphery arranged to be operatively associated with a latch-member I28 which is pivotally mounted at its upper end to the stanchion H8. The latchmember I28 is provided at its upper end with a finger-piece I29 at substantially right angles to.

its shank I 30. The shank I 32 is adapted to. ex tend downwardly ina vertical plane substantially parallel to and in the planeof the inside face of the pulley IN, the lower end of the shank being.

provided with a forwardly-projecting finger IBI (see Fig. 1). Secured in the finger i-SI is an adjustable screw I32, the latter being arranged to extend, upwardly into the. path of movement of the bar I2! of the pulley Ill. The adjustable screw I32 is adapted normally to be held in the pathof movement of the bar I21 by a coil-spring I33- which is secured at one end to the finger ISI and at its opposite end to a post I34 projecting from the underside of the work-holding plate. When the pulley is rotated to move the bar 12'? into engagement with the upper end of the adjustable screw I 32, the chain connections between the pulley I I 'I. and the pulleys I I2 will ten-.

sion the spring IM. However, since engagement between the bar I21 and the adjustable screw E32 is efiected below the dead center of the pulley II1, the bar IN' is resiliently held in engagement with the screw I32 by-the force of the tensioned spring H4. In order to release the rotatable frame-members Ill! and their work-piece retaining wire-loops I I5, thefinger-piece I 22 may be pressed down to pivot the latch I23 c0unterclockwise and swing the adjustable screw I32 out of engagement with the bar I21.

The operation of the sewing machine may he described briefly as follows. Assuming a sewing cycle has just been completed, the operator presses down on the. finger-piece- I29 of the ratchet-locking means H5 so as. to release the pulley III and permit the work-piece-holding frame-members Ill! to swing upwardly and cut wardly away from the, workpiece. Thereupon, the finished work-piece is removed from the work-piece-holding aperture It! and the respec- 40 tive elements of a second work-piece are assembled on the ledge I05 thereof. The operator then thrusts rearwardly on the foot-pedal of the arm I26 of the bell-crank lever to pull the chain I24 downwardly and rotate the pulley IIl' in a counterclockwise direction so as to engage the wire-loops H5 of the frame-members with the assembled elements of the work-piece, the adjustable screw I 32 being adapted to. engage the bar I21 of the pulley II! to hold the work-pieceengagingmembers in locked position. Referring to Fig 3, the cord 8i of the second friction driveband I1 is shown bent around a pulley I 35 on the underside of the base and connected at itslower end to the bell-crank lever-arm I25. Consequently, when the lever-arm I 26 is operated to actuate the work-piece-holding members, the second friction drive-band 'I'I will be simultaneously tightened around the disk 5| of the pinionmember 49 so as to rotate the latter in a clockwise direction, during which time the brakeband 69 is automatically released, as described above. The clockwise rotation of the pinionmember thus displaces the work-piece holder 88 and" the work-piece with respect to the needle II, the displacement of the work-piece being in a direction rearwardly of the position of the work-piece at the end of the previous sewing cycle. On releasing the pedal of the bell-crank lever-arm I26, the brake-band 69 again clamps around the pinion-disk 5| to prevent movement of; the pinion-member, and thereafter the operatorengages a second pedal not shown, but which is connected in any conventional manner to a pivoted starting-arm I 36, the actuation oi which; positively forces the pivoted stop-lever I ber.

Iii

drive-pulley l4, whereupon the needle-shaft l2 and the oscillating shuttle shaft 46 begin to 1'0- tate. As the shuttle-shaft 66 oscillates, the drive-band 54 rotates the pinion-member intermittently in a counterclockwise direction, thereby transmitting intermittent motion to the rack plate 96. The latter'being mounted for substantially-universal movement in a horizontal plane, moves in a path'corresponding to the configuration of the cam-groove in the underside thereof, thus traversing a work-piece through a similar path, whereupon the needle ll stitches a similar pattern around the periphery of the assembled elements of the work-piece. As the carriage and work-piece holder approach the end of the sawing cycle, the left-hand guide-rod 95 of the carriage engages and pushes the prop 33 of the latch-means 29 off of the edge of the base 2'! of the machine, thereby automatically stopping the operation of the machine, as described above. Simultaneously, suitable means (not shown and not forming'a part of the present invention) are moving said carriage, said drive-means comprising an oscillating shuttle-shaft, a pinionmember arranged to cooperatively engage the rack of said carriage, and an element operatively associated with said shuttle-shaft arranged to transmit intermittent rotary motion to said pinion-member to move said work-piece holder through a sewing cycle; and stop-means arranged to be actuated by said carriage at the actuated by the displaced stop-lever 8 to automatically release the thread. At the end of the sewing cycle, the final stitches sewn in the article have overrun the stitches initially sewn at the start of the sewing cycle, thereby effectively tying together the loose ends of the threads.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, ancl the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are in tended to be embraced therein.

I claim: V

1. In a sewing machine, the combination with a base; a carriage having a rack-plate; means to support said carriage onsaid base to permit universal movement of said carriage and rack-plate in a horizontal plane; a work-piece holder supported by said carriage; and drive-means for moving said carriage, said drive-means comprising an oscillatingv shuttle-shaft, a pinion-member arranged to cooperatively engage the rackplate of said carriage, and a friction-drive band arranged to. engage said pinion-member and to be actuated by said shuttle-shaft to transmit step-by-step rotary motion to said pinion-mem- 2. In a sewing machine, the combination with a 7 base; a carriage having arack-plate; means to support said carriage on said base to permit universal movement of said. carriage and rack-plate in a horizontal plane; a work-piece holder supported by said carriage; drive-means for moving said carriage, said drive-means comprising an oscillating shuttle-shaft, a pinion-member arranged to cooperatively engage the rack-plate ofsaid carriage, and a friction-drive'band arranged to engage said pinion-member andto be actuated by said shuttle-shaft to transmit stepby-step rotary motion to said pinion-member; and a brake-member arranged to frictionally engage said pinion-memberto hold the latter stationary between successivesteps. V 3. In a sewing machine, the combination with a base; a carriagehaving a rack-plate; means to support said'carriage on said base to perm-it universal movement .of said carriage and rackplate in a horizontal plane; a work-piece holder supported by said carriage; drive-means for end of said sewing cycle to automatically stop said drive-means.

4. In a sewing machine, the combination with a base; a carriage; means to support said carriage on said base to permit universal movement of said carriage in a horizontal plane; a workpiece holder supported by said carriage, said holder comprising clamping-members arranged to secure a work-piece to said holdemdrivemeans to move said universally-movable carriage through a sewing cycle; means to automatically stop said carriage at the end of said sewing cycle; carriage-resetting means; and operating-means connected to said clampingmembers and said carriage-resetting means to simultaneously clamp a work-piece in said holder and reset said carriage prior to the start of the next sewing cycle.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination with a base; a carriage having a rack-plate; means to support said carriage on said base to permit universal movement of said carriage and rackplate in a horizontal plane; a work-piece holder supported by said carriage, said holder comprising clamping-members arranged to secure a work-piece to said holder; drive-means arranged to move said carriage through a sewing cycle, said drive-means comprising a shuttle-shaft, a pinion-member'arranged to cooperatively engage the rack-plate of said carriage, and an element operatively associated with said shuttle-shaft arranged to transmit intermittent rotary motion to said pinion-member; and carriage-resetting means cooperatively associated with said pinionmember and arranged to be actuated simultaneously with the actuation of said work-piece clamping-members to reverse the direction of rotation of said pinion-member at the end of said sewing cycle. r V I 6. In a sewing machine, the combination with a base; a carriage having a rack-plate; means to support said carriage on said base to permit universal movement of said carriage and rackplate in a horizontal plane; a work-piece holder supported by said carriage, said holder comprising clamping-members arranged to secure a work-piece to said holder; drive-meansarranged to move said carriage through a sewing cycle, said drive-means comprising a shuttle-shaft, a pinion-member arranged to cooperatively engage the rack-plate of said carriage, and a frictiondrive band cooperatively associated with said shuttle-shaft arranged to transmit step-by-step rotary motion to said pinion-member; a brakeband arranged to engage said pinion-member to hold the latter stationary between-successive steps; and a second friction-drive band in engagement with said pinion-member arranged to be actuated simultaneously with the actuation of said work-piece clamping-members to reverse the direction of rotation of said pinion-member at the end of said sewing cycle to reset said carriage. r

7. In a sewing machine, the combination with a base; a carriage having a rack-plate; means to; support said carriage on said base to permit;

universal movement of said carriage and racks plate in a horizontal plane; a work-piece holder supported by said carriage, said holder comprising clamping-members arranged to secure a work-piece to said holder; drive-means arranged to move said carriage through a sewing cycle, said drive-means comprising a shuttle-shaft, a pinion-member arranged to cooperatively engage the rack-plate of said carriage, and a friction-drive sand cooperatively associated with said shuttle-shaft arranged to transmit step-by-step rotary motion to said pinionmember; a brake-band arranged to engage said pinion-member to hold the latter stationary between successive steps; a second friction-drive band in engagement. with said pinion-member arranged to be actuated simultaneously with the actuation of said work-piece clamping-members to. reverse the direction of rotation of. said pinion-member at the end of said sewing cycle to reset said carriage; and means arranged to automatically disengage said brake-band from said pinion-member when said second frictiondrive band is operated to reverse the direction of rotation of said pinion-member.

8. In a sewing machine, the combination with a base; a carriage having a rack-plate; means to support said carriage on said base to permit universal movement of said carriage and rackplate in a horizontal plane; a work-piece holder supported by said carriage, said holder comprising clamping-members arranged to secure a work-piece to said holder; drive-means arranged to move said carriage through a sewing cycle, said drive-means comprising a friction-drive band constructed and arranged to transmit stepby-step movement to said carriage; a brake-band cooperatively associated with said drive-means to hold said carriage stationary between successive steps; a second friction-drive band cooperatively associated with said drive-means to reverse the direction of movement of said carriage at the end of said sewing cycle; and operating-means connected to said clampingmembers and said second friction-drive band to simultaneously clamp a work-piece to said holder and reset said carriage prior to the start of the next sewing cycle.

9. In a sewing machine, the combination with a base; a carriage having a rack-plate; means to support said carriage on said base to permit universal movement of said carriage and rack-plate in a horizontal plane; a work-piece holder supported by said carriage, said holder comprising clamping-members arranged to secure a workpiece to said holder; drive-means arranged to move said carriage through a sewing cycle, said drive-means comprising a friction-drive band constructed and arranged to transmit step-bystep movement to said carriage; a brake-band cooperatively associated with said drive-means to hold said carriage stationary 'between'successive steps; a second friction-drive band cooperatively associated with said drive-means to reverse the direction of movement of said carriage at the end of said sewing cycle; operating-means connected to said clamping-members and said second friction-drive band to simultaneously clamp a workpiece to said holder and reset said carriage prior to the start of the next sewing cycle; and means arranged to automatically disassociate said brake-band from said drive-means when said secnd friction-drive band is operated to reset said carriage.

10: In a sewing machinathe combination; with, a base; a carriage; means to support said carriage on-said' base to permit universal movement of Said carriage in a horizontal plane; a work-piece holder supported by said carriage; means to drive said carriage comprising a pinioniember arranged to transmit step-by-step movement to said carriage; carriage-resetting means comprising a friction-drive band in engagement with said pinion-member; and operating-means con structed and arranged to actuate said friotiondrive band to reset said carriage at the end of the sewing cycle.

11; In a sewing machine, the combination with a base; a carriage; means to support said carriage on said base to permit universal movement of said carriage in a horizontal plane; a workpiece holder supported by said carriage; means to drive said carriage comprising a pinion-member arranged to transmit step-by-step movement to said carriage; carriage-resetting means com! prising a friction-drive band in engagement with said pinion-member; a brake-band in engagement with said pinion-member; and operating-means constructed and arranged to simultaneously disengage said brake-band from said pinion-member and to actuate said friction-drive band to reset said carriage at the end of the sewing cycle.

12. In a sewing machine, the combination with a base; a carriage; means to support said carriage on said base to permit universal movement of said carriage in a horizontal plane; means to drive said carriage; a work-piece holder supported by said carriage, said holder having a recess to receive a work-piece; and work-piece clampingmeans mounted on said holder, said clampingmeans comprising a pair of frame-members hinged to said holder on opposite sides of said recess, each frame-member having resilient work piece engaging elements arranged to automatically compensate for variations in thickness of said work-piece; and manually-operable means connected to said hinged-members and arranged to swing said hinged-members simultaneously into clamping-position whereby said resilient elements are adapted to clamp said work-piece in the recess of said holder. M

13. In a sewing machine, the combination with a base; a carriage; means to support said carriage on said base to permit universal movement of said carriage in a horizontal plane; means to drive said carriage; a work-piece holder supported by said carriage, said holder having a recess to receive a work-piece; and work-piece clampingmeans mounted on said holder, said clampingmeans comprising a pair of frame-members hinged to said holder on opposite sides of said recess, each frame-member having resilient workpiece-engaging wire-loops arranged to automatically compensate for variations in the thickness of said work-piece; manually-operable means connected to said hinged members and arranged to swing said hinged members simultaneously into clamping-position whereby said wire-loops are adapted to clamp said work-piece in the recess of said holder; and ratchet-means to lock said hinged members in clamping-position.

14. In a sewing machine of the class described, a work-piece holder having work-piece clampingmeans; intermittent drive-means for moving the work-piece holder through a sewing cycle and means operatively associated with said intermittent drive-means and actuated simultaneously with the actuation of the work-piece clampingmeans to reset the work-piece holder at the end of the sewing cycle.

15. In a sewing machine, the combination of a base-plate having a vertical aperture therein; a pair of spaced-parallel guide-rods; means arranged to support said guide-rods in a horizontal second pair of guide-rods being slldably supported in one of the said bearing-apertures of said brack- 16; ets for longitudinal movement substantially at right angles to the said first pair of guide-rods; a

member arranged to secure said rack-plate to' the said second pair of guide-rods; and a pinion arranged to project upwardly through the aperture of said base-pl'ate'and to engage said rackplate to transmit substantially universal movement thereto in a horizontal plane,

, SAUL SCHILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,111,494 Rosenthal Sept. 22, 1914 1,119,100 Mills Dec. 1, 1914 1,637,373 Fisher Aug. 2, 1927 Tillett Dec. 2, 1941 

